To share and connect with those interested in writing from life, recording their personal histories, writing a memoir for publication and/or personal use, and all things related to writing one's story.

"Have you thought about writing your family history, but found yourself stuck from the start? Writing a family narrative can be a daunting task, but Karen Jones Gowen found a way to bring her mother's story to life." (Homespun Magazine)

Monday, January 10, 2011

OORAH!

At my son's graduation in San Diego, I learned that is the celebratory shout of the Marines. What else I learned--

Recruits never see their drill instructors eat, sleep, sneeze, blow their noses, or go to the bathroom. Yet these men are with them constantly, especially during the first phase. The drill instructors are like semi-gods. They are the most fit human beings on the planet. Many of them are very short. My son at 5' 10" towered over most of them, yet still felt small in comparison.

You send a kind of dorky, geeky, sometimes angry kid lacking in confidence off to MCRD at San Diego, and three months later you pick up a disciplined, well-spoken, confident young man who moves faster, stands taller, is more polite and obedient, and cares about his dress even when on leave. "A Marine doesn't wear pajama pants in public. A Marine only wears work out clothes when doing PT," he says. (PT is physical training) And he won't wear anything wrinkled, raggedy or the least bit dirty.

Three months ago he argued and balked whenever asked to do anything. Now he says, "Let's clean this house, Mom. It's heinous. I'll help." And he does. He used to have all kinds of reasons why he couldn't fulfill a reasonable request. Now he says, "Adapt and overcome," and finds a way.

This is why they say that parents call Marine drill instructors "miracle workers." I thought my kid was pretty great before boot camp. Now he's amazing. And that's why I say "OORAH!" Mothers of America, don't be afraid or upset when your son comes home one day and tells you he wants to be a Marine. Thank God he made that choice and support him all the way.

Wow! This should be sent to the Marine Recruiters, a great advertising campaign in the making. Thanks for your visit to sixtyfivewhatnow. And yes, I have written one memoir, a blog called lakeviewer-wheniwasyourage.blogspot.com which I closed temporarily.

I'm not sure what to do next, as the memoir concentrated on my coming to America, the adjustments and difficulties, how the rest my family back home had wished and prayed for all of them to join me.

These stories may not be of interest to anyone else, but I had fun writing them.

Followers

Just Do It! Write Your Story

"I devoted myself, early on, to writing. Really writing. Just doing it, no matter how awkward and unfit I felt. So every single morning I am on the planet, I grit my teeth and this hard, embarrassing, abject, thrilling thing--writing--because I want, in part, to count." (from Page after Page by Heather Sellers)

Photos from Farm Girl

High school graduation photo of Lucille Marker, the farm girl

Lucille drinking from the well

John Marker, Dust Bowl Days

The Marker Nebraska farmstead

"Farm Girl presents a vision of life on a Nebraska homestead during the 1920's and 1930's, told from a child's perspective, and illustrated with photographs of the time." (Quincy Herald Whig)

"Through the intertwined stories of the life of the Marker family and of the broader historical time period, the book is more than captivating. Gowen's vivid account of her mother's life allows Farm Girl to read as seamlessly as if one were recalling personal memories." (The Holyoke Enterprise)

"Farm Girl will capture the interest of readers in the photos the book contains and witty recollections Lucille has of her grandparents in Catherton Township." (The Red Cloud Chief)

To Buy My Books

True coming of age story of a young girl growing up on a 1930's Nebraska farm.

Click to order

A young married couple struggles to find balance during the over-the-top decade of the Seventies. An autobiographical novel.

Praise for Uncut Diamonds

"What I love is the dialogue." (Deirdre Paulsen, BYU English professor)

"...tight, realistic, warm family truth... exactly the kind of realistic character-and relationship-driven writing I have been waiting to happen in the LDS market." (Marilyn Brown, award-winning author and benefactor of the annual Marilyn Brown Award)